Legislative leaders will receive slightly more cash because they make more.

California lawmakers are the highest paid in the nation and do not receive pensions. This will be their first increase since 2007. Lawmakers have absorbed cuts amounting to 23.3 percent since 2009. Before then, the average legislator earned $116,208.

They also receive a per diem for each day they are in session. The amount is set according to what the federal government reimburses its workers, not by the compensation commission. The state payment is to offset the costs of having two homes.

Starting Dec. 1, that daily expense check will be $161, up from the current $141.86. If lawmakers are in session for 128 days — the number worked in 2013 — they will take home about $2,500 more next year in expense payments. That will cost taxpayers about $300,000.

The Legislature returns to the Capitol in early January.

Lawmakers won’t be the only ones with bigger checks to spend just in time for the holidays. A dozen constitutional officers will receive increases ranging from about $5,500 to $8.700, depending on the post.

For example, Gov. Jerry Brown’s salary will climb to $173,987, up about $8,700 from his current level. That’s far below the $212,179 set for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008. Schwarzenegger, wealthy from his movie and business income, did not take a salary, however.

A Brown spokesman said he will accept the raise.

Legislators have until about Nov. 20 to notify state check writers whether they want to decline the raise. If they do not, the extra money will be automatically added to their checks. Fewer than a dozen lawmakers statewide have indicated they will reject the higher salary as of Friday.